One choice can transform you–or it can destroy you. But every choice has consequences, and as unrest surges in the factions all around her, Tris Prior must continue trying to save those she loves–and herself–while grappling with haunting questions of grief and forgiveness, identity and loyalty, politics and love.

Tris’s initiation day should have been marked by celebration and victory with her chosen faction; instead, the day ended with unspeakable horrors. War now looms as conflict between the factions and their ideologies grows. And in times of war, sides must be chosen, secrets will emerge, and choices will become even more irrevocable–and even more powerful. Transformed by her own decisions but also by haunting grief and guilt, radical new discoveries, and shifting relationships, Tris must fully embrace her Divergence, even if she does not know what she may lose by doing so.

Second in the series continues the line but takes the reader through a lot of drama.

Note: this review contains spoilers for Divergent

Dark Days

Insurgent picks up right where Divergent leaves off, which is a good thing as Divergent ended with lots of action still waiting to play out. And for fans of Divergent, me among them, it’s a welcome thing to delve back into a story filled with so many outstanding characters.

But, with the way things ended in Divergent, let’s face it…life in Veronica Roth’s dystopian Chicago wasn’t going to convert into some candy shop filled with sunshine and lollipops. Tris, Four, their friends and families went through a lot right up to the end of Divergent and they didn’t magically turn the corner into some idyllic better place…war is looming and the uncertainty they faced in Divergent only grows in this second book in the series.

Things Fall Apart

When Divergent ended, Tris and Four had fought their way out of Amity, saving some but leaving many more, including Tris’s parents, dead at the hands of Erudite controlled slaves. Tris has killed to save herself, Four was injected with special simulation serum that made him think Tris was trying to kill him and they barely got out alive. So when we join them again, it’s somewhat miraculous that they both haven’t completely fallen apart.

Except that they actually do start to crack under the pressure in this book. They grow distant. They forget to trust one another. They let silence and misunderstandings stand in the way of the bond they share. And I didn’t like it.

Why Did You Leave Me This Way?

I had a hard time with this book. It had nothing to do with Ms. Roth’s writing, which as always was wonderful. But it had everything to do with the drama inherent in the second book of a series. Fortunately, she didn’t curse me with a love triangle – the bane of the YA sequel these days. But there was still plenty of drama to go around. I just hated the way Tris and Four acted in this book. I know they’re teenagers coping with insane circumstances, I get that. But they’re also fictional characters and I felt that Ms. Roth asked me to forgive too much and gave me too little in return.

Since the end of Divergent, we’ve been tantalized with what’s outside the walls of the city and why they lock from the outside. And while we learned much about Four’s past, much I had guessed already when reading the first book, we learned precious little about that over arching secret, even though it was dangled repeatedly in front of the reader throughout this book. For me, this book felt like it took more than it gave and that the characters endured more than was necessary. It is my hope that this book did some major set ups for the third book, in which case all the dark times and drama may make sense at some later point. But at the end of this book I felt wrung out and sad, and not in a good way.

Bewitched Rating

Bottom Line

All darkness and few answers made this book less of a joy to read than the previous volume, but still left me curious to find out what happens next.

The narrator for this book was the same as the first, Emma Galvin, and she again did a stellar job of bringing these characters to life. If you’re an audio book fan, you’ll definitely appreciate listening to this book.

Lover of words and authors; absolute fan girl of books! Give me a good story, with characters I can love (and hate) and I’ll follow you anywhere. Sing me a song of worlds I can dream of, and I’ll listen forever.

25 Responses to “Review: Insurgent by Veronica Roth”

I couldn’t read your review because I haven’t read Divergent yet, but I saw Insurgent and had to check this out. I can’t WAIT to read this series, it just looks SOOO good!! Such gorgeous covers! As soon as I read Divergent I intend on reading all of the reviews out there, such as yours!, for Insurgent so I’ll be back, hopefully in the near future!Nichole recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday

I actually liked the darker tones in this book. Like you I want answers to the world outside and all the clues and foreshadowing made me crazy…lol Great review Pushy 😉kimbacaffeinate recently posted..Skylark (Skylark #1) by Meagan Spooner

Oh no, too bad it didn’t live up to your expectations. I devoured this one in one day and was actually quite happy with it – even though I could have done with less relationship drama and a bit more secret-unveiling. 😀 But I liked it nonethless. Thanks a lot for your honesty though. Lovely review!Carina @ Fictional Distraction recently posted..Waiting on Wednesday #70

I still haven’t read this one so I’m sad to hear you didn’t like it as much. I think that’s actually why I keep putting it off. I’ll get to it one day and I’ll keep your thoughts in mind.Lori recently posted..Review: The Blood Keeper by Tessa Gratton

Oh SO happy about the lack of triangle in this series. I agree this sequel was very broody and dramatic and it’s why I didn’t love it as much even though I understood the need for some character growth and realism after the end of book 1. I’m glad that it’s over and done with and now we can move on into book 3 lol. But AAH I’m so curious about this ending! Great review, Pushy!

Amen for no love triangle. But there’s such trouble between Tris and Four, it’s a wonder they can move past it. Most teens wouldn’t be able to. Interested to see how this story winds up, especially after the twist at the end…Mary @ Book Swarm recently posted..Speed Date with Ree: GEEKOMANCY by Michael R. Underwood

I know exactly how you feel about those annoying relationship problems. They drove me crazy!! Neither of them have any reason to not trust each other, and yet.. they don’t. The whole thing just felt like extra, unnecessary drama 🙁 At the end of Divergent I was looking forward to Tris and Four becoming a team and an official couple, but that just completely fell apart.

I did love the ending and it made me SO excited to see what will happen in book 3.. but man, those relationship problems… UGH! It felt like they dominated the entire first half of the book.Ashley recently posted..Throne of Glass by Sarah J. Maas

I know this book was a bit of a letdown. The characters I loved in Divergent were shadows or themselves. I especially didn’t like the changes in Tris. The ending sure was shocking, though!Heidi recently posted..First Grave on the Right Read Along Week #2

Ihave picked up Of Blood and Pulse, the second
inn the series, which just released, and as soon ass I finish a few other books on my list I’m going too
bee reading that one. Johhn Green manages to tackle a very serious subject
with humor and grace. After changing her faction, she becomes, Tris and begins a brutal training for heer new faction.

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